Flexible driving means



March 10, 1931.

E. F. WHITE FLEXIBLE DRIVING MEANS Original Filed Jan. 18, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 March 10, 19 31. w n' 7 1,795,692

FLEXIBLE DRIVING MEANS Original Filed Jan. 18, 1925- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Mar. 10, 1931 i I 1,795,692 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEEZEIKIEL F. WHITE, 01? HARTFORD, CONNECTIC'U'L FLEXIBLE DRIVING MEANS IOriginal application filed January 18, 1928, Serial 110,247,543. Dividedand this application filed November 25, 1929. Serial No. 409,738.

This invention relates to flexible driving tween the main driving shaftand the atomizmeans, more particularly, though not excluing spindle;sively, intended for driving a centrifugal Fig. 7 is a detail showingthe method of element. such as a rotatable body, adapted bolting thebearing support to the casing; and

under high speed. to seek its natural center Fig. 8 is a detail showingin elevation a 5 of rotation, one object of the invention being portionof the triple spring driving connecto provide a simple driving mechanismtion between the driving shaft and the driven through which a body maybe rotated at a spindle. relatively high speed with a minimum ofReferring to the drawings, I have there 1 noise, vibration and powerconsumption and shown for illustrative purposes one embodion withassurance of long life and durability in ment of the invention appliedto a centrifugal respect to the bearings and other parts subliquid fuelburner, the liquid fuel, for the. ject to wear. purpose of description,being herein assumed The invention as herein described is shown to beoil.

in its application to a'liquid fuel, centrifugal Referring to thedrawings in detail, the burner, but it will be evident that variousapburner comprises a centrifugal a'tomizing plications thereof may bemade and uses member designated generally at 11 which is other than thatherein described. located in the combustion chamber of the Thisapplication is a division of my prior heater and is driven to rotate athigh speed I co-pending application, Serial No. 247,543, about anupright axis through appropriate 70 filed January 18, 1928, no claimbeing made gearing by means of a horizontal, relatively herein to thefeatures of the burner alone or low speed, electric motor 13 mounted onthe in combination. base plate 15. The armature shaft 17 of Theinvention will be best understood by the motor carries at its end awormgear 19 2 reference to the following description when located within thecasing 21 which is secured 75 taken in connection with the accompanyingto the end of the motor frame, the gear 19 illustration of one specificembodiment theremeshing with the worm 23 secured to the upof, while itsscope will be more particularly right drive shaft 25. pointed out in theappended claims. The drive shaft 25 is mounted to rotate in In thedrawings: upper and lower bearings 27 and 29, each of o Fig. 1 is asectional elevation illustrating which is in the form of a sleeve'havinga the centrifugal atomizing element and the spherical enlargementrepresented at 31 and driving mechanism therefor, as well as other 33,the latter being seated each in a spherical parts of the burnerapparatus which are lorecess in the supporting casing 35. The bear- 85cated in or adjacent the combustion chamber ing sleeves 27 and 29 areprovided with pins 85 of the boiler or other heater; 37 engagingrecesses in the casing which Fig. 2 is a plan view of the drivingmechprevent the sleeves from turning about the anism with the atomizingcup, its driving axis of the shaft 25 but permit a slight, spindle andthe oil feed pipe removed; limited, rocking movement of each bearing 40Fig.3isasect-ional elevation on an enlarged sleeve in its socket topermit the sleeve to scale, taken through the bottom of the main adaptitself to slightly different axial posidriving shaft, showing theprovision for cirtions.

culating the lubricant In assembling the parts, the supporting cas- Fig.4 is a section in plan taken on the line ing 35, with the sleeves andshaft assembled 45 4-4 in Fig. 3; therein, is inserted through anopening in the Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the atomtop of thecasing 21 and is secured thereto izing member looking from beneath andtaken by the flanged plate 39 which 1S bolted to the on the line 55 inFig. 1; casing by means of the bolts 41 (Fig. 2), the Fig. 6 is an enlared, elevational view worm being brought into mesh with the teeth 50 ofthe flexible spring driving connection be of the worm gear.

- casing can be shifted within a limite The holes in the flanged plate39 through which the bolts 41 pass (see Fig. 7) are of larger diameterthan the bolts themselves, so that a certain amount of clearance isleft. Accordingly, after the apparatus has been assembled the plate 39with the supporting range and the worm adjusted in any direction withrelation to the gear 19 to secure the position of best interengagement.In practice the final adjustment of the worm with relation to the wormgear can be made after the apparatus has been completely assembled andthe motor operated, the flanged plate, with the bolts only partlytightened, being then tapped into the position where the smoothest andmost quiet running conditions are secured. When this position is found,the bolts are set up tight and if desired the plate may be pinned inplace.

The spherical supports for the worm shaft bearings provide a certainamount of self adjustment for the worm shaft, permitting the worm to adat itself to the exact alignment required and also allowing for anyflexing of the shaft through its engagement with the worm,=-thuspreventing binding and servingto minimize the wear on the bearings,while at the same time providing bearing contact for the shaft for thefull length of the bearings. This adjustment of the main drive shaft andits self adaptability materially decrease thenoise and vibration, add tothe life and durability of the apparatus, and reduce the power requiredto operate the burner.

The gear is driven in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, sothat when the burner is in operation the engagement of the gear with theworm tends in large measure to offset the weight of the drive shaft,atomizing member and other driven parts, thereby relieving the bearingsof a substantial amount of frictional wear and further reducing thepower required to drive the burner.

Referring to the driving connections for the centrifugal atomizer, thelatter is provided with the driven spindle 51 which is rotated withinthe upright casing 53 by a driving connection to the main drive shaft,hereinafter described. The driven spindle rotates in a bearing 55 ofsubstantial length, the bearing being in the form of a sleeve providedwith a spherical enlargement 57 which rests in a spherical recess in thecasing 53, so that the bearing is capable of moving freely withinreasonable limits on its spherical seat, there being provided elsewherea substantial clearance between the sleeve and the casing to permit suchmovement. The bearing sleeve 55 is prevented from turning by the pin 59which permits, however, the necessary movement of the hearing. Thespherical seat on which the movement of the spindle takes place islocated well below the center of gravity of the atomizing cup, thelatter in the illustrated form of the invention having its center ofgravity in approximately the plane of the bottom of the hereinafterdescribed head 71.

Referring now to the driving connection between the spindle 51 and thedriving shaft 25 (see Fi 6), the spindle, which is in a position of enstantial alignment with the shaft, is connected to be driven therebythrough a yieldable connection, permittin the spindle and its bearin 55a certain freedom of movement so that t e atomizer may automaticalladjust its center of rotation, the extent of sucli movement, however,being limited by its relation to the drive shaft.

For this purpose the lower end of the spindle is tapered at 61 for asubstantial distance and has applied thereto a coiled connecting spring63, the opposite end of the spring being applied to a similarly taperedbut closely opposing end 65 of the drive shaft 25.

Owing to the small scale of the drawing, a conventional showing of asingle spring only is made in Fig. 1. While a single or a double woundspring may be employed, I preferably employ a triple wound s ring, thatis to say, a spring wound from t ree separate pieces of spring wire withparallel and adjacent convolutions, this preferred form of spring beingshown in Figs. Bend 8.

The inside diameter of the spring is preferably somewhat less than thegreatest diameter of the tapered portions of the shaft and spindle andsomewhat greater than the smallest diameter thereof. When assembled, andwith the atomizer at rest, the outer ends of the spring are distendedand tightly grip the tapered portions of the driving and driven membersfor a substantial part of their length, the intermediate part of thespring retaining its normal shape and diameter and clearing the taperedwalls. The direction of the spring winding is such that when the burneris started up the spring tightens its grip on both the driving anddriven members and, under the torque of the driving motor, the open partof the spring closes in and, in whole or In part, also wraps about andgrips the tapered wall. In starting the torque is several times thenormal running torque, so that the action of the middle portion of thespring is first to wrap about or close in on the tapered walls,yieldably enforcing an alignment of the driving and driven spindles, butto open up more or less and release the adjoining portions of thetapered driving and driven members as the critical speed is reached,allowing the atomizing member to float or seek its natural center ofrotation.

In assembling the parts, the tapered ends of the two members can bereadily forced and twisted into engagement with the spring and thelatter provides an adequate driving connection between the driving anddriven members, but ermits the driven spindle to have the describedmovement or adaptation on its bearing seat 57 when it is driven at highrates of speed.

It is desirable at all times, and particularly in starting up therotation of the atomizer, that means should be provided for yieldablycentering the driven spindle or drawing it lnto a position of true axialalignment with the driving spindle; also that some means should beprovided for limiting the extent of the movement of the spindle awayfrom its position of alignment. Otherwise vibration and unnecessarilywide and uncontrolled rocking or swaying of the atomizer and its spindlemay result, and if intiated at starting it is apt quickly to get out ofcontrol with disastrous results.

To this end the ends of the two shafts are tapered as described so as toprovide two tapered aligned seats for the spring. The spring or springsare thereby maintained in true axial alignment under all conditions andvariations of torque. In the case of a spring forced about twoadjoining, truly cylmdrical shaft portions of slightly greater diameterthan the inside diameter of the spring, each distended portion of thespring surrounding the shaft is concentric with the shaft but theintermediate portion which surrounds neither shaft is eccentric to theadjoining shafts. This creates an unbalanced condition, throwing theshafts out of ahgnment, which condition is eliminated under allconditions of torque through the use of the tapered spring-engagingportions.

A plurality of springs, and preferably three, is also employed for thispurpose, since a single spring in wrapping about the shaft at startingprovides a yielding resistauce variable in different directions due tothe characteristic of the spring. Through the use of a triple woundspring, however, the three separate windings may be so adjusted anddisposed with relation to each other that in the case of each taperedshaft the final points of contact between the shaft and the three springmembers may be located 120 apart giving a balanced condition and anequal yielding resistance in all directions and under all conditions.

To limit the extent of movement of the driven spindle from its alignedposition, the tip of the spindle is reduced in diameter at 67 and thisreduced end enters within an opening 69 in the tip of the driving shaft,there being provided a small but sufiicient amount of clearance topermit the necessary movement of the spindle as the atomizer seeks itsnatural center of rotation at high speeds.

In practice it is found that the balancing of the cup can be so closelyapproximated in its initial construction, that, although some movementof the driving spindle is necessar to insure perfectly smooth runnin sucparatus starts into operation and tending at all times yieldably torestore such relationshipv if it is departed from. At the same time itprovides a resilient connection permitting slight displacement of thespindle from an exactly aligned position and permitting the slightgyratory movement necessitated by the gyrostatic effect of the hi hspeed, centrifugal atomizing member. e effect of the spring drivingconnection is also to cushion the shock between the cup and the motor,preventing the effect of irregularities in the driving of the motor frombeing transmitted to the cup.

Referring to the construction of the centrifugal atomizing cu the latteris herein provided with a head 71 which projects into the combustionchamber, the head being of substantial mass and preferably constructedof a non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or brass, to rovide a goodconductor of heat.

Depen ing from the head and secured thereto is an annular oil' receivingcup 73 having a trough-like bottom 75 in which the oil is adapted to bedelivered by means of the stationary delivery pipe 77 entering throughthe annular opening in the bottom of the cup between the rim thereof andthe casing 53. The sides of the cu are flared slightly upwardly andoutwardly, so that when the atomizer is rotated the oil delivered to thetrough 75 passes in the form of a thin film up the side of the cup andthrough a slot 79 formed between the sides of the cup and the edges ofthe head 71. The head is beveled or undercut at 81 to provide an escapefor the oil, there being left, however, a series of radial ribs 83 (seeFig. 5) through which the cup is fastened to the head by means of rivets85. The upper rim of the cup itself is provided with a lip 87 which, inconjunction with the beveled edge of the head, forms the slot 79 anddirects the air radially out- Ward at a slight upward inclination whilethe atomized oil is projected tangentially from the cup and in ahorizontal plane.

The described burner may be employed in connection with air supplypassages arranged in any suitable manner. Herein the bottom of thecombustion chamber is formed by the plate 89 supported on the base 15 byposts 91 (one of which only is shown) and carrying the wall 93 in theform of a truncated cone. On the top of the cone shaped wall 93 there issupported an air control casing 95 having an annular air admissionpassage 97 about the upright casing 53 for the atomizing cup spindle andadapted to deliver air immediately beneath and around the atomlzingelement. The air control casing is also provided with a plurality ofadditional air supply openings 99, the available area of which may beregulated by means of an ad- ]ustable damper ring 101 so that additionalair may be admitted from beneath the plate 89 through the air space 103and the air openings 99. Above the air control casing 95 there is alsoprovided a deflector plate 105 which rests on the casing by means ofseveral radial ribs 107 and serves to deflect the air entering throughthe openings 99 so that it passes intdthe combustion chamber in partabout the outer edges of the deflector plate and in part through thecentral opening 109 in the deflector plate, where it commingles-with thecentrally fed air and passes in and about the atomizing member.

' In the operation of the burner, the centrifugal atomizing member isdriven at a hi h rate of speed, for example, seven or eig t thousandrevolutions per minute. The oil delivered to the cup is therebydischarged through the annular slot 79, entering the.

combustion chamber tangentially in the form of an atomized horizontaldisk-like sheet. The air entering centrally about the atomizer throughthe opening 109 is augmented by that entering about the edges of theplate 105 and provides a layer of air underlying the sheet of atomizedoil. The air passing through the cup and the slot 7 9 is deflected abovethe sheet of atomized oil and provides an overlying layer of air, theeffect being to produce an atomized sheet of .oil between two layers ofair. The action of the burner provides a circulation of the upper airlayer so that a substantial part of the hot, burned gases are returnedback into the flaming mass, raising its temperature of combustion.

Any of the usual methods of feeding th oil to the .atomizing cup orcontrolling and regulating the oil feed in response to the requirementsof the burner as well as controlling and regulating the action of theburner and the motor may be employed, and since these are well known noattempt is made to illustrate the same. The oil is herein supplied tothe pipe 77 through the connection 111' and inlet passage 113 by meansof'any suitable feeding devices.

In the operation of the burner, the centrifugal atomizing elementoperating at high speed quickly finds its natural center of rotation.Any slight divergence of the axis of the spindle 51 from its requiredposition is immediately corrected by the movement of the spindle axis,the bearing 55 adapting itself to this condition by a slight movement onits ball seat 57 and the resilient connection between the driving shaftand the spindle permitting this movement of adaptation to readily takeplace. Unnatural or unnecessary oscillations of the cup spindle,however,

are prevented by the relationship of the re-' duced end 67 of thedriving spindle to the recessed end of the driving shaft, the playbetween these two members, however, being sufficient to permit allnecessary movements of adaptation. When the centrifugal member has beenbrought up to speed it runs smoothly and noiselessly in its bearings,operating in similarity to the spinning action of a top, and the spindleand shaft will run with a minimum of bearing wear.

Preferably the driving mechanism herein, including also the motor, isresiliently mounted, there being provided for this purpose the foursprings 115, 117, 119 and 121 (Fig. 2), each seated in a socket 123(Fig. 1) in the base plate 15 and supporting the motor and casing 21 bymeans of studs 125 preferably threaded into the bottom of the motorframe and easing respectively so as to be capable of adjustment. Whenthe apparatus is assembled, the studs are adjusted to secure the bestpossible vertical alignment of the driving shaft. During the operationthey provide a resilient support for the entire driving mechanism.

To assure lubrication for the driving mechanism, the bottom of thecasing 21 forms a well in which there is maintained a quantity oflubricating oil, the bottom of the supporting casing 35 being immersedin the lubricant and the rotation of the driving shaft serving tocirculate this oil through the bearings and other parts.

For this purpose it will be seen that the bearing support for the driveshaft terminates short of the bottom of the casing so that the oil hasaccess to it. In the bottom of the casing 35 there is provided an oilchamber 127 (Figs. 3 and 4) surrounding the bottom of the drive shaft25, the lower end of which is formed with four radial slots 129. Thebottom of the casing is closed by a plate 131 having a central opening133, the plate being covered by a gauze screen 135 retained by aholdingplate 137. The slotted lower end of the drive shaft acts as acentrifugal pump, drawing the oil in through the central opening 133,discharging it radially into the oil chamber 127 and thence through thedischarge passage 139 by which it is carried up through the bearingsupport 35 and through a registering passage 141 (Fig. 1) in the easing53, being delivered between the spindle 51 and the spindle bearing 55about the pin 59. The priming andoperation of this pump are assisted bya baflle' wall which is in the form of a pin 143 (Fig. 3) located in theoil chamber to divert the oil into the passage 139.

The upper end of the bearin 55 is surrounded by a thimble 145 secure tothe spindle to prevent the escape of lubricating oil m itating from thespindle, passes down within the casing between the drive shaft 25 andits bearings, the excess oil being discharged through the groove 151into the casing and onto the worm wheel 19. During the operation of theburner, therefore, there is a constant circulation of thelubricating oilfrom the casing to the bearings of the spindle, thence to the bearingsof the drive shaft, the worm and the worm wheel.

Since the head 71 of the atomizer is formed of non-ferrous,heat-conducting metal, the.

heat which it acquires iscondncted through the body of the head to theunderside thereof and dissipated uickly to the air passing through thecup. is keeps the headrelatively cool and raises the temperature of theair passing through the slot 79. The ribs 83 act as radiatin vaneswhichBma-terially increase the trans erence of-heat from the head to theincoming air. The capacity of the head 71 to dissipate the heat quicklyto the air circulating beneath and around the same enables the head tobe runbelow the coking tem erature of the oil." This prevents the cokingor carbonizing of the oil, which has been a fault with atomizersprovided with heads of ferrous metal and particularly when employed withoil carrying more or less cylinder stock or having an asphaltum orparaflin base, the high temperature at which such atomizers mustbe runcausing accumulations of carbon which interfere with atomization andtend to throw the cup out of balance.

It will be observed that the spring driving connection is not onlylocated remote from the efi'ect of an high temperature, but is protectedwithin the casing 53 where it is also subjected to the cooling effect ofthe circulating lubricant, and that the bearing 55 for the spindle 51 isalso protected within the casing and similarly subjected to the coolingaction of the lubricant. Due to the self cooling capacity of thenon-ferrous head 71 in conjunction with the air circulation provided,these parts, and particularly the bearing 55, are also protected againstthe effect of any high temperature.

While I have herein shown and described for the purpose of illustrationone specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thatextensive deviations may. be made therefrom and widely differentrelationship of the various parts described may bearing member belowthebody be had, all without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims:

1. The combination with a freely rotatable body adapted to seek itsnatural center of rotation, of a spindle rigidly connected to drive thebody, a journal bearing member for the spindle in which the latter isrotatably mounted, a separate driving shaft, a resilient sprinvconnection between the shaft and the spindle, and a spherical bearingsupport on which the bearing member is movable and about which thegyratory movement of the spindle may take place.

2. The combination with a freely rotatable body adapted to seek itsnatural center of rotation, of a driving connection permitting thelatter to seek its natural center of rotation and comprising a shaft ri'dly connected .to drive the body, a journal glaring for the shaft inwhich the latter is rotatably mounted, a s herical seat on which thebearing is movab e, permitting gyratory movement of the shaft about saidseat, a separate driving shaft and a resilient driving connectionbetween the driving shaft and the shaft for said rotatable bodypermitting such gyratory movement with relation to the drivin shaft.

3. The combination with a rotatab e body freely rotatable about anupright axis and adapted to seek its natural center of rotation, of adepending spindle rigidly secured to said body to drive thesame, ajournal and below the center of gravity thereof in which bearing membersaid spindle is rotatable said spindle having an end protruding belowthe bearing member, a-driving shaft separate from but normally alignedwith the protrading end of said spindle and presenting an end adjacentthe end of the spindle, a yielding driving connectionbetween the spindleand shaft comprising a coiled spring in gripping engagement with theoutside walls of the adjacent ends of the spindle and shaft, journalbearings for said driving shaft, a rigid casing enclosin said spring andproviding support for t e journal bearings of said driving shaft andproviding also a support on which the journal bearing member for thespindle is movable to permit gyratory movement of the spindle axis,.andmeans to drive the driving shaft.

4. The combination with a rotatable body adapted to seek its naturalcenter of rotation, of a spindle rigidly connected to said body to drivethe same, an elongated 'ournal bearing sleeve in which said spin e isrotated,

said spindle having an end protrudingthrough said sleeve, a s hericalseat in which said sleeve is mounte to permit gyratory movement of thespindle, a separate driving shaft normally aligned with the protrudingend of the spindle and presenting an end adjacent the end of thespindle, a yielding freely rotatable about an upright axis and adaptedto seek its naturalcenter of rotation,

-of a depending spindle rigidly secured to said body to drive the same,a ournalbearing member below the body and below the center ofgravitythereof in which bearing member said spindle is rotatable, said spindlehaving an end protruding below the bearing member, a driving shaftseparate from but normally aligned with the protruding end of saidspindle and resenting an end adjacent the end of the spindle, a yieldingdriving connection between the spindle and shaft comprising a coiledspring in gripping engagement with-the outside walls of. the adjacentencls of the spindle and shaft, journal bearings for said driving shaft,a rigid casingenclosing said spring and providing support for thejournal bearings of said driving shaft and providing also a support onwhich the journal bearing member for the spindle is movable to permitgyratory movement of the spindle axis, means to drive the driving shaft,and means forcirculatin fluid through said casing from said journalearing member and said s ring.

6. The com ination of a rotatable hollow open bottomed body adapted toseek its natural axis of rotation, of a driving spindle rigidl securedto. and dependin from said bo g, a closed supporting and fl iiidcontaining ousing surrounding said s indle and extending up through theopen ottom end of said body, a journal bearing within said housing inwhich said spindle is rotatably mounted, a spherical seat in saidhousing in which said journal bearing is loosely supported and iscapable of free rocking movement to permit gyrations of said body as itpasses through its critical speed, a separate driving shaft spaced fromand in axial ali ent with said housing, bearings for said riving shaftmounted in said housing and a resilient driving connection between saidshaft and spindle acting to yieldingly restrain excessive gyrations ofsaid body about said seat as a fulcrum.

7. In a centrifugal machine of the class described in combination, arotatable body and driving unit therefor, permitting said body to assumeits natural axis of rotation at high speeds, said unit comprising asubstantially tubular housing, a spindle within said housing and rigidlyconnected to said body to drive the latter, a journal bearing for thespindle in which the latter is rotatably mounted, a spherical seat onthe bearing and cooperating spherical support in the housing forpivotally supporting said spindle and body to permit free rockingmovement of'the latter as it passes through its critical speed, aseparate driving shaft journalled in said tubular housing, and resilientdriving connections between the shaft and spindle for inipartingrotation of the former to the latter and also acting to exert aresilient restraining force against the end of the spindle to re strainexcessive gyrations of the spindle about its point of pivotal support asa fulcrum.

8. The combination with a rotatable body freely rotatable about anupright axis and adapted to seek its natural center of rotation, of adepending spindle rigidly secured to said body to drive the same, ajournal bearing member below the body, in which bearing member saidspindle is rotatable, said spindle having an end rotruding below thebearing member, a riving shaft separate from but normally aligned withthe protruding end of the spindle and presenting an end adjacent the endof the spindle, a yielding driving connection between the spindle andthe shaft, journal bearings for said driving shaft, asupport positionedbelow the center of gravit of said body and between the latter an saidyielding driving connection and presenting a support on which thejournal bearing member for the spindle is movable to permit gyratorymovement of the spindle axis, said support providing a center ofgyration for said s indle and serving as a fulcrum through which saidyielding driving connection is ada ted to act to restrain excessivegyrations o the body, and means to drive the driving shaft.

9. The combination with a rotatable body adapted to seek its naturalcenter of rotation, of a driven member connected to saidbody to drivethesame, means providing a gyratory movement of the driven member about a'center between the center of gravity of the body' and the end of saidmember, a driving member, said driving and driven members having taperedends separated but normally in closely aligned relationship, the end ofthe driven member being movable laterally with relation to the end ofthe driving member to permit said gyratory movement of the drivenmember, and a driving and aligning connection-between said memberscomprising a coiled spring connecting said driving and driven members.

10. The combination with a rotatable body adapted to seek its naturalcenter of rotation, of a driven member connected to said body to drivethe same, means providing for gyratory movement of said member about acenter between the center of gravity of the body and the end of thedriven member, a driving member, the ends of said driving and drivenmembers being separated but normally in closely aligned relationship andthe end of the driven member being movable laterally with relation tothe end of the driving member to permit said gyratory movement of thedriven member, a resilient driving connection between said memberscomprising a coiled spring, and means to limit the lateral movement ofthe driven member with relation to the driving member.

11. The combination with a body rotatable about an upright shaft andadapted to seek its natural center of rotation, of an upright drivenshaft connected to said body to drive the same, means providing forgyratory movement of the shaft about a center between the center ofgravity of the body and the lower end of the shaft, an upright drivingshaft, said driving and driven shafts having tapered ends in separatedbut closely aligned relationship and the end of the driven shaft beingmovable laterally with relation to the end of the driving shaft topermit said gyra- ,tory movement of the driven shaft, and a driving andaligning connection between the shafts comprising a coiled springgripping said tapered portions, said body and shaft being axially freeto rest on and move with said spring, whereby the latter serves as aresilient driving, aligning and supporting member.

12. The combination with a rotatable body adapted to seek its naturalcenter of rotation, of a driven member connected tosaid body to drivethe same, means providing for gyratory movement of the driven memberabout a center between the center of gravity of the body and the end ofsaid member, a driving member, said driving and driven members havingtapered ends, separated but normally in closely aligned relationship,the end of the driven member being movable laterally with I relation tothe end of the driving member to permit said gyratory movement of thedriven member, and a driving and aligning connection between saidmembers comprising a coiled spring gripping said tapered portions,

the spring when unstressed being of lesser inside diameter than thelarger portlons of said tapered ends and of greater inside diameter thanthe smaller portions of said tapered ends.

13. The combination with a rotatable body adapted to seek its naturalcenter of rotation, of a driven member connected to said body to drivethe same, means providing for gyratory member away from a osition ofaxial alignment substantially uniform in all directions.

14. The combination with a rotatable body adapted to seek its naturalcenter of rotation, of a driven shaft connected to said body to drivethe same, means providing for gyratory mdvement of the shaft sbout acenter between the center ofgravity of the body and the end of theshaft, a driving shaft, said driving and driven shafts havingtaperedends, separated but normally in closely aligned relationship, the end ofthe driven shaft being movable laterally with relation to the end ofEZEKIEL F. WHITE.

movement of said member about a center between the center of gravity ofthe body and the end of the driven member, a driving member, saiddriving and driven members having ends separated but normally in closelyaligned relationship, the end of the driven member being movablelaterally with relation to the end of the driving member, and a drivingand aligning connection between said members comprising a springengaging the adjacent ends of said driving and driven members andadapted to provide a yielding resistance to the movement of the driven

